1) Attendance at all scheduled class meetings is essential for success in this course .  If missing a class is unavoidable, it shall be your responsibility to find out what was announced and what was assigned during your absence as well as to catch up on the material you missed.

2) Excused absences are absences due to illness, to a death in the immediate family requiring you to be away from the campus temporarily, to a conflict with the schedule of religious observances (see item 3 below), and to genuine emergencies.  In all other cases, an absence is considered an excused absence only if I deem it so after conferring with you PRIOR TO the absence.  (In particular, if you cannot be present to take an exam, discuss the matter, if at all possible, with me BEFORE the exam.)  Evidence supporting the claim of an excused absence may be required.  

As you arrange your work schedule, recreation schedule, social schedule, vacations, elective therapies and surgeries, etc., be mindful not to create conflicts with the schedule of lectures and exams in this course.  Absences due to such activities will not qualify as excused absences.

3) In accordance with University of Wisconsin policy, any potential conflict between class work and religious observance must be made known to the instructor within the first three weeks of classes.  You must notify the instructor of the specific days or dates for which you request relief from academic requirements on account of sincerely-held religious beliefs.

4) All exams will be announced in advance.  Attendance at each one is required.  The course policies concerning missed exams are as follows:

(a)  If you miss an exam and your absence is unexcused, your score on that exam will be zero.
(b)  If you miss one mid-term exam ("mid-term exam" means "any exam other than the final exam") due to an excused absence, then your score on that exam will be zero and your next scheduled exam will count double.
(c)  If you miss two or more exams due to excused absences, then your final exam will cover the full range of course material (that is, it will be a comprehensive final).  Its weight in determining your course grade will equal the weight of the missed exams plus the weight of the regular (non-comprehensive) final.
(d)  A make-up exam will be given only in the case of a final exam missed due to an excused absence.

 5) If I am absent from class, in most cases another instructor will either substitute for me or will announce that the class session has been canceled.  If there is no substitute instructor, nor any announcement, please remain in the classroom for ten minutes before departing.

1) Your numerical course grade will be based on the following: 

            20%  Exam 1                                                 
            20%  Exam 2                                                 
            20%  Exam 3  
            20%  Exam 4  (Final exam, non-comprehensive)
            20%  Homework and quizzes

2) Exams will cover material from lecture, homework, and the assigned readings.  

3) Homework will be assigned and graded throughout the course.  You should start early on these assignments and not leave them until the last minute.  The solutions for a homework assignment will be posted sometime after the assignment's deadline.  The instructor will accept homework for grading up until the time that solutions for that assignment are posted, or graded homework from that assignment is distributed in class, whichever occurs first.  To be assured that your homework will be accepted for grading, submit it by the deadline. 

   In grading the homework, the instructor will be looking for clarity of presentation, neatness, and attention to units in addition to correctness of the solutions.

4) Your letter grade for the course will be determined by your numerical course grade (see item 1 above).  The borderline between an A- and a B+ will be no higher than a numerical course grade of 90.  The borderlines between B-/C+, C-/D+, and D/F will be no higher than numerical course grades of 80, 65, and 50, respectively.